NFL Rumors: Austin Ekeler’s cryptic message, a new team on OBJ, and a ballsy Chiefs reunion

NFL Rumors: Chiefs re-sign Orlando Brown, nutty or genius?

The Kansas City Chiefs were never going to re-tag left tackle Orlando Brown in 2023. It would have been a financially irresponsible move that would have added more anxiety and ill-harbored feelings to the whole situation.

Brown, at the time of this writing, remains available on the market and could command more suitors once free agency officially begins. Some around the league believe he’s not a true left tackle and shouldn’t get paid as one, which is part of the reason why Brown hasn’t found a new team yet.

Some also believe that if Brown were to sign a new contract, it would be a one-year deal with any given team. Well, that’s interesting. Hm. Could the Chiefs be in play to bring back Brown this offseason?

Kansas City already has its left tackle of the future in Jawaan Taylor, the former Jacksonville Jaguars right tackle who is coming off a career-best year in pass protection (75.9 pass-blocking grade and a career-low five allowed sacks).

But with a generational talent like Patrick Mahomes, you need the very best. Brown has proved himself as a worthy blindside blocker for Mahomes in the last two years, ramping up his play in the postseason and allowing zero sacks this past Super Bowl.

Brown’s asking price was still too high for the Chiefs to extend him this offseason, and the Chiefs weren’t about to eat up money on the franchise tag. Instead, if Kansas City brought back Brown on a reasonable one-year contract, would anyone say no?

Brown hasn’t been poached (yet) and may not find the lucrative left tackle contract he’s looking for. The Chiefs may need an emergency backup plan in place if Taylor underperforms, and finding an elite left tackle is much more difficult than, say, finding an elite wide receiver.

In the end, a reunion between the Chiefs and Orlando Brown would be ballsy, but it just might take Kansas City to the Super Bowl next season. Trust in Brett Veach and Andy Reid to consider all possible scenarios and make the smartest move.